NATO Chief Says Europe ‘Heard the Message’ as U.S. Starts Pulling 5,000 Troops From Germany

Overview

• Mark Rutte said Monday that European governments have heard President Donald Trump’s warning and are stepping up access and support for U.S. use of bases.
• The Pentagon said the withdrawal of 5,000 personnel from Germany will conclude within 12 months, and a U.S. defense official told Reuters that a combat brigade will leave and a long‑range artillery battalion will not deploy this year, returning U.S. levels in Europe toward pre‑2022 numbers.
• Trump has warned of deeper reductions and is pressing allies to carry more of the defense load and to back U.S. operations tied to the Iran conflict.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that options under review include shifting units to Poland, Romania, Lithuania or Greece and even closing a U.S. base in Europe.
• Germany hosts about 35,000 U.S. troops and allowed use of its bases, while Spain closed airspace to U.S. war flights and Italy denied a Sicilian base, reflecting split responses that have fed the current reshuffle.